The fast-food restaurant, which this year had its rock-bottom hygiene rating of “zero” upgraded to a “one”, has applied for a late-night alcohol licence.

Bosses want to serve booze until 1am on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 11pm on Sundays and midnight throughout the rest of the week. But police want reassurances that it will not cause anti-social behaviour to neighbours whose homes back onto the venue in Stoke Newington High Street.

Stokey Bears was opened by Tom Reaney, who hit the headlines last year for failing to reward hundreds of people who donated thousands of pounds to his fundraiser for a new branch in Old Street.

Tom referred to the “zero” rating as “council banter” earlier this year, and hinted it was set to be upgraded. And it was, but not by much – inspectors said they found mouse droppings in the “bar, seating area and stores” in January and gave it a “one”.